Folding concrete form



Oct. l2, 1948.

Filed Oct. 4. 1946 w. c. NlccoLLs FOLDING CONCRETE FORM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Ovt. 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ja/fer6 7?(cc`0lls ATI'D RNEYB Patented Oct. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING CONCRETE FORM Walter C. Niccolls, San Jose, Calif.

Application October 4, 1946, Serial No. 701,229

Claims. (C1. 25-131) My present invention relates generally to concrete structures of the monolithic type, and more particularly to an improved foldable concreteform for use in erecting solid, or hollow, concrete walls for buildings or other structures.

The prim-ary object of the invention is the provision of a sectional mold-form for 4the plastic concrete that may easily and quickly -be erected with a minimum expenditure of time an-d'labor; with equal facility the forms may be dismantled for repeated use in constructing or pouring successive courses in a Wall; and nally the forms may be det-ached from the completed wall, and folded into compact shape for storage and trans- -portation purposes.

In carrying out my invention the sections, which make up the form for a course, each includes a pair of hinged panels consisting of a minimum number of component parts that may readily be manufactured and assembled, and the panels of a section are equipped with `co-acting parts for bracing and supporting .the mold when in place.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of Darts Ias will hereinafter be described and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged in accord with one mode I have devised for the practical application of the princi-ples of my invention; but it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made vin these exemplifying drawings and mechanical structures within .the scope yof my claims without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the concrete mold in position for constructing an angular wall.'

Figure 2 is an exterior view in elevation of one of the mold-sections or forms, the hinged panels of the section being braced and locked together for use.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation showing a modied shape that may be given to the hinged panels, for auxiliary use.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view at line 4 4 of Fig. 1, showing the upper panel of a section braced and locked in position and sup-ported bythe lower panel.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View at line V5--5 of Figure l illustrating the hinge arrangement between the pair of panels of a section.

Fig-ure 6 is a View in side elevation of a -conventional core used in the construction of a hollow monolithi-c wall.

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the core at line 'l-l of Fig. 6, with the core expanded.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but with the core contracted.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the collapsible slit core, broken away at one end to illustrate the overlapping joint in its Walls.

In the assembly view Fig. 1 the inner form A and the outer form B are made up of a number of the sections, as are also the corner structures C yand D, land the forms as unitary structures consist of these sections that are interconnected and nterlocked to provide a rigid mold for the plastic concrete. The sections include 'horizontal--Y ly hinged pan-els which :are erected, end to end, in horizontal planes to form courses, and the lower tier lof panels in a course provide the mold for the rst course of concrete. While this first course is being poured the upper horizontal tier of panels is preferably folded downwardly and away 'from the mold; and after the first course is set, the upper tier of panels is infolded to upright position, braced and locked from the lower tier of panels, to provide the mold for the second pouring of plastic concrete.

For pouring successive courses of the plas-tic concrete, the sectional forms are dismantled and elevated, and by this combination and arrangement of parts in the unitary molds, each section' of a mold becomes -a self-supporting unit in a mold form.

One of the standardized hinged sections is illustrated in detail in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, where a pair of oblong or rectangular angle iron frames I and 2 are each provided with a smooth, rustproof, metal face plate, as 3 and 4, preferably welded to the frame structures.

The lower edge 5, and the right hand end 6 of each plate of a panel projects beyond the frame to form anges cr tongues that overlap adjoining panels; and the upper edge 1 and the left end 8 of each face plate terminates short of the frame to form recesses or grooves for the reception of the tongues. In this manner interlocking jints are provided between adjoining panels and sections, and leaf-proof connections are made between the panels to insure smooth faces for the concrete wall.

'I'he upper and lower panels are each provided with exterior, vertical channel-braces 9, welded to and uniting the upper and lower bars of the frame and the face plates to form a rigid strucor braces 9.A

This arrangement ofthe hinges-provides for a wide swing of thel upper panel away from the lower when the panels are folded, but as seen in Fig. 5, the hinges, together with the tongue andu the formation of voids or cavities in the com-K groove connections at adjoining edge'sof the -p'an-V els, tend to rigidly hold the panels Yin alinement to insure a plumb Wall.

The tiers of panels of the inner formi Aand of Thewalls are fashioned with overlapping ends 3| and the free ends of the core-halves may be projected and retracted by means of a pair of toggle devices, each device including a push and pull rod 32 which passes through a hole in the top of the cover. The operating rod is provided with anY exterior head or handle33, and the lower end of the rod within the core is equipped with two linksl,` .34, hinged at 3,5 .to the walls .of the split core. f Y. j

The split core may be retracted for insertion and withdrawal from the concrete wall, and it may beV projected or expanded to proper shape for pleted Wan.V Y

" .'I-.claimlas :new land'` desire to secureV byV Letters the outer form B are united by means of tievbolts 3 I2, each having an exterior crank handle I3, a Xed exterior collar I4 and nut I5 threaded' on the en'dfof the bolt. Thebolt i's'pas'sedt'hrough holes in the upper part of complementary outer and-inner panels of the'mold, with the collar bearingagainst the outer'iace of a iramebar,y

and the nut is threaded on the end of the bolt exterior 'of aframe rail Vof an inner panel'. The

outer and inner forms of the mold are thus spaced l l apart, and clamped together to form the desired thickness for the concrete wall'. Y 1 j vFor alining and plumbing the upper panel, and

equipped with a pair of spaced arms Iii,1 pivoted at IT on one of the vertical channel braces 9 at the upper edge of a panel, and this arm, at its free end terminates in a socket head or slotted U- shaped head I8 turned'at an angle to the arm as indicated.

In mol-ding position, the upper panel Yis sup-V ported from'the head I8 of the lower panel by means oiga; diagonally arrangedVV bolt VI9 Yhinged oriA thepivot pin. I'I of the arm of the upper panel,l

with' the otherwise free end' of 'thebolt I9located inthe socket head-of the horizontal arm,`

and a pair of lock nuts 20, 2| atopposite faces ofthe-'head areY employedto lock the `adj usted bolt shaped Vframe for supporting the'upper' VpanelV in proper position. p

The hinged panels, the pivoted and hinged arms,

bolts, andbraces, as' will be `apparent may be manipulated with ease folding'v 'and unfolding' thesefparts Afor use in'erectingthe outer and innerforms, aswell as'for compacting the sections insmall' area forstorage or .transportation purposes. Y

While I have illustrated'the panels generally of oblong shape, it willbe' understood that other shapes maybe employedasor instance, a square shaped-panel 25` inAFigfIS may-beutilized as de- For pouring hollow or cellular walls'of concrete,

sired.Y

collapsible 'cores may be employed., one of which isindicated in. Figs. 6. through 9, where the operi bottom splitcore'.includesA two'side walls 26 and 21' having "split'tops 28 andf29` that are hinged. together at 30. f

9:61. bracingitl from the lower panel, each panel is onthe upperV panel, land 13o-acting means on the head and bolt for holdingl the Vpanels in vertical alinement. f Y

a Vconcrete mold-section, the combination with apalr og longitudinally'hinged panels, of ai horizontal arm and integral head pivotally mounti ed on the lowerpanel, a bolt pivotally mounted onv theY upper panel, and a pair of lock'nuts for clamping the head and boit.

f3.` In a con-certe mold-section, the combinationV with a pairof horizontally hingedA panels havingV i faceepl'ates, said face plateshaving a tongue and V groove connection` at adjoining edges, oi aho'ri-V zontal--arniffand head pivotallymounted on the lower panel, 'a 'diagonally arranged bolt 'pivoted on theup'perpanel, andlock huts y'on the bolt forv coaction with said head;

4. In a concrete mold section, the combination! with a? pair off-hinged panels each'including a vrectangularfa'ce plate, each of said vface plates having a right-angle tongue and a right-angle groove the upper paneLVand looknuts on the/bolt for 'co-v 5. vvInay concrete mold-section the 'combination with apairfoi4 panels having atongue Aand groove joint'betweenvadjoining edges, of a pair of`hinges each including a vertical hinge bar spanning said edges, pivoted.V links on said bar connected to the' respective panels, and means mounted on'th'e're- Qsp'etive `panels 'for' cor-action in :retaining them in alinement.

YfREFERENons CITED The olljow'ing referenesare of'. record in ther iejof-thispatent: v

Y fr UNITED sTA'rEs- PAfrmrrsv Y. `WairrER C. vrNicoonns. 

